Disc mower range gets upgrade
Kuhn has announced an expansion of its range of disc mowers, distributed by Norwood in New Zealand, with the addition of two new vertically folding rear mounted models, the GMD 3515 and GMD 4015.
The first to break cover is AURA, a self-propelled ‘feeding solution’ that loads, weighs, mixes, distributes and even ‘pushes up’ feed to the barrier. Part of the ALFS (Autonomous Livestock Feeding System) that started as a concept in 2015, the finished version recently walked away with an innovation award at the recent French Space 2020 Expo.
Up front, a rotary cutterhead and conveyor system – like the one already used on the company’s full-sized mixer wagons – cuts silage directly from the clamp face and delivers it to the machine’s 3 cubic metre capacity tub.
Said to be suitable to feed a mob of up to 280 animals, the AURA tips the scales at 6.2 tonnes empty. It can travel at speeds of up to 7km/h around the yard or 2 km/h when feeding.
Currently powered by a 56hp diesel engine, Dairy News understands that a hybrid option is in the pipeline.
This will use the engine for loading and mixing and then switch to an ‘electric mode’ for feeding – helping to reduce both noise and emissions.
Guidance at the clamp is taken care of by GPS/RTK in conjunction with an odometer, while at the feeding area, LIDAR and the odometer is the chosen solution.
